Speaking on BBC 5 Live, he said: "He's a lovely lad, he just gets on with his football, it means the world to him. He's given everything for Liverpool. Everything.

"I would have been gutted if had left but I would have appreciated everything he gave to the club. The fact that he's stayed I cannot understand any reason for Liverpool to sell him in January. It does not make sense.

Philippe Coutinho has hit a patch of form and Jurgen Klopp will be desperate for him to stay (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

"I'm probably going to get a little bit of stick for this but I think Liverpool should have let him go. He asked to go.

"I know it was late in the transfer window, and I can understand why we kept hold of him, but if he's made the effort to come and say he wants to go, given everything he's done for the club, I thought he would have been allowed to go."